US missile strike kills five in Pakistan: officials

Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:25 EDT - France24.com - Business

A US drone missile attack Tuesday killed at least five suspected militants in the 11th such strike targeting Pakistan's northwest Taliban strongholds this month, security officials said.The missiles pounded a militant compound in a village 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal region.Pakistan's lawless tribal belt runs along the Afghan border and Washington has branded it the most dangerous place in the world, rife with Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants plotting attacks on Western targets.

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A US missile strike on a militant compound in Pakistan's tribal district on the Afghan border killed at least 10 rebels on Wednesday, local security officials said.The attack took place in Dandey Darpakhel village, five kilometres (three miles) northwest of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, which is a renowned hub for Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants.

A US drone missile attack killed three militants in Pakistan's tribal belt on the Afghan border Friday, destroying a militant compound, Pakistani officials said.The attack took place in Zanini village near the town of Mir Ali, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town of restive North Waziristan tribal district."US drones fired four missiles at a militant compound and according to initial information at least three militants were killed," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A missile strike from a US drone aircraft killed three suspected militants in Pakistan's lawless northwest tribal belt early Tuesday, security and intelligence officials said.The attack targeted a car in Aspalga village, about 12 kilometres (seven miles) southeast of Miranshah, the main town of the restive North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan, officials said."The three people killed in the attack were militants but as yet their identity is not confirmed," an intelligence official told AFP. "The moment the car left a house, it was hit by two missiles."

At least three militants were killed Friday in the second US missile strike in as many days targeting Pakistan's wild tribal region of North Waziristan, officials said.The morning attack by a drone aircraft struck a suspected militant hideout in Ghundikala village, 15 kilometres (nine miles) east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan and close to the Afghan border."A US drone fired two missiles, targeting a vehicle and killing three militants," a senior security official in the area told AFP.

At least three militants were killed Friday in the second US missile strike in as many days targeting Pakistan's wild tribal region of North Waziristan, officials said.The morning attack by a drone aircraft struck a suspected militant hideout in Ghundikala village, 15 kilometres (nine miles) east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan and close to the Afghan border."A US drone fired two missiles, targeting a vehicle and killing three militants," a senior security official in the area told AFP.

A US missile strike on a militant compound in Pakistan's tribal district on the Afghan border killed four rebels on Saturday, local security officials said.The strike took place in the village of Essori, 20 kilometres (13 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, which is known as a hub of Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants."One missile fired from a US drone struck a militant compound in the village killing at least four rebels," a senior Pakistani security official in the area told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A US drone strike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt on Saturday killed four militants, destroying their compound and a vehicle, local security officials said.Two missiles fired by a US drone hit Ahmad Khel village, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region, local security officials said."It was a US drone attack, one missile hit a house and another hit a vehicle. We have reports that four militants were killed," an intelligence official in Miranshah told AFP.

A US drone strike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt on Saturday killed four militants, destroying their compound and a vehicle, local security officials said.Two missiles fired by a US drone hit Ahmad Khel village, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region, local security officials said."It was a US drone attack, one missile hit a house and other hit a vehicle. We have reports that four militants were killed," an intelligence official in Miranshah told AFP.

US missiles flattened an extremist hideout in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt Sunday, killing two militants in the latest strike in a recent spike in drone attacks, Pakistani officials said.The attack targeted a house in Mosakki village, about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, and was the third suspected US missile attack in the tribal district in less than a week.

A US drone strike killed six militants on Saturday in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt along the Afghan border, local security officials said.Four missiles hit a house used by militants in Dashgah village near Datta Khel town, some 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, the officials said."Two US drones fired four missiles and destroyed the house. Six militants were killed in this attack," a Pakistani security official based in Peshawar told AFP on condition of anonymity.